(2008) A (video) letter to a son about his father, director Kurt Kuenne (also writer, composer, producer, etc.) created a visual time machine, his last film project for his friend Andrew David Bagby, who was murdered on November 5th, 2001. Prepare to be saddened and shocked.

Having grown up with Andrew in Sunnyvale, Calif., making amateur films together with "Bags" appearing in various roles, Kurt decided to tour the country, interviewing everyone he could find - family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances - who'd known Andrew (popular as a best man at weddings) to record the profound effect he'd had on them. An Eagle Scout at 15, Andrew, "short, portly," became a doctor after attending medical school in Newfoundland, leaving surgery in Syracuse, NY, for family practice at Latrobe Area Hospital in Pennsylvania.

Twenty-eight years old, shot five times by a "psychotic bitch," Shirley Turner, a 40-year-old Canadian woman he'd met while in med school, with whom he'd begun a strange relationship (not right for him, according to many who'd met her) after his former fiancée broke up with him, Andrew went to see Shirley (against his friend's warning not to see her alone) following a 16-hour drive she'd taken from Council Bluffs, Iowa, shortly after their relationship disintegrated.

Fleeing back to St John's, Newfoundland, Shirley, accused of premeditated murder, fighting against extradition to the US, reveals she's pregnant. Andrew's parents, David and Kate Bagby, begin an uncompromising legal effort to obtain custody of the child, Zachary Andrew, born July 18th, 2002. At this point the purpose of Kurt's project became a video history of Andrew's life for the benefit of the fatherless boy.

Flying to England to get members of Kate's side of the family on camera, then returning to California (where the memorial service had been held) before trekking across the US, stopping in St Louis and elsewhere on his way to Newfoundland, Kurt finally sees Zachary in person. Andrew's parents agreed to terms of consent with Shirley during her incarceration, after the long and delayed process of the law, including accepting collect phone calls for her to speak to Zachary and their bringing the boy for weekly visits to the prison.

Legal twists and turns follow during which Kate and David accept onerous and expensive responsibilities on behalf of Zachary without justice's taking into consideration their loss: Justice David Russell (who along with others responsible for what later happened declined to be interviewed) releases Shirley on bail (without anyone's ever paying a penny of the $75,000 bond); contrary to extensive evidence, the court rules there was "no indication of psychological disorder" of Ms Turner that warranted her imprisonment, and the crime's "specific in nature" (i.e., her intent had been to harm only one individual) meant society was not threatened by her being free. Zachary is returned to her care.

David admits on camera that he seriously considered killing Shirley, with whom he and his wife spent considerable time in order to remain close to Zachary, making sure Kate was drugged asleep to avoid her involvement; that way, though he'd be locked away, Kate would be able to raise the child as her own.

Having "trusted government to do its job," their book, Dance with the Devil, narrates their ordeal and deep disappointment, which led them to become aggressive advocates for reform of the languid legal and child-care systems in Canada.

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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